I am pleased to be a part of Adopt an Author Week (19th to 25th October). I have the utmost pleasure in hosting my adopted author, Aubrey Bondurant. Please make her feel most welcome by checking out her book, reading the author interview and excerpts and entering the amazing giveaway at the bottom of this post. Without further ado, I bring you Tell Me Something, the first book in a new Contemporary Romance series. However, the second book, Ask Me Something, is due to be released in November 2015.
Haylee Holloway has experienced more grief than a twenty-two year old should have to endure. When she moves to LA for a fresh start and takes a job as an assistant for an Advertising company the last thing she expects is to have to step in last minute during a photo shoot as the model. Her bikini line and weight are suddenly open topics of discussion, and a client’s million dollar advertisement campaign is hanging in the balance. And to cap it off, the multi-millionaire, gorgeous owner of the company shows up and takes charge.
Josh Singer, the owner of Gamble Enterprises is private, intense, and hard to read. His voice is sexy, his eyes are smoldering and when he learns of Haylee’s goal to save money for law school, he makes her an offer she can’t refuse:
To move to New York City and work for him directly as his assistant.
Haylee’s dilemma: how does she travel the world with a HOT boss whose voice alone conjures up an erotic fantasy and not completely make a fool of herself? Frustrated with Josh’s mixed signals, Haylee finally puts it all on the line. Blurring both professional and personal lines can they keep things temporary as planned or will they both realize some things weren’t meant to end?
Full Length Standalone book with no cliffhanger. First book of the “Something Series”
Recommended for mature readers due to situations of language, and sexual content.
Excerpt For Tell Me Something-Available now on Amazon
I retrieved cash out of my purse and felt his eyes on me. Looking at his expression, I could tell he was amused that I was going to pay. “You’re driving me home and just gave me forty thousand dollars I didn’t have yesterday, the least I can do is treat you for a junk food dinner,” I insisted.
I had expected him to be stubborn, but instead he accepted my twenty, giving it to the teenage girl who could only stare dumbly.
Yeah I know how it feels honey, he is way out of both of our leagues.
As he handed me my change, I felt his hand on mine and thought it unfair that I be so affected while he was going through the normal motions.
“So, do you want to eat in the parking lot, go back to your place, or we can go to my hotel room?” He must have noticed my stunned look as he hastily added, “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded, I meant— You know what, why don’t we just pull over here?” He parked the car on the far side of the lot. “I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable, Haylee.” His voice was quiet.
I was half torn between ripping into my cheeseburger and wanting to unbuckle his pants and devour him. I doubted either of those scenarios was in the business etiquette handbook.
“You aren’t. I knew what you were asking and considering traffic, I think eating here is preferable. I’m starving.”
He seemed to relax as we both dug into our burgers and I tried to remember my manners.
“Well what do you think?” I asked.
“It’s good. Is this your go-to place for dinner?”
“Ah, no, can’t keep my size six, still-too-fat-for-modeling figure, going out here every night.”
He chuckled thankfully, with an appreciation for my sarcasm.
“It’s more comfort food after a long hard day with no workout planned after. Slug food.”
He quirked a brow.
“You know, slugging on the couch after junk-induced food coma?”
He seemed to find that humorous. “When are you going to law school?”
Well, that was quite a change in subject. “I’m hoping next year in the fall.” I was feeling better by the minute as I started on my fries.
“Why are you waiting?”
He seemed sincerely interested but I really didn’t want to make it about money. This was a man who wouldn’t understand having to save up for something. “I had a lot going on right after graduation and I wanted to work for a year first.”
He frowned at my vague answer. “Do you like working for Warren?”
I stopped chewing and swallowed hard. Warren was a bully around the office and I wasn’t particularly fond of him. But Josh was his boss, and one of the traits I held dear was loyalty so I answered carefully. “He’s good at his job and well respected in the industry. He’s professional and works hard.”
Josh appeared disappointed by my response. “You do know that he wasn’t going to pay you for today, right?”
My breath caught. I had suspected that Josh had everything to do with the payday, but hearing the confirmation made me a little sick to my stomach. Warren hadn’t seemed appreciative of me stepping in at all. Knowing his personality, he probably thought of it as an extension of my job duties to fill in when requested.
“Mr. Singer, I’m not sure what you expect me to say. I’m not surprised if that is what you’re after. However I don’t think it is appropriate for me to discuss my feelings on the matter with his boss and the owner of the company.”
“I admire your loyalty, Haylee. Warren has been through five assistants in the last three years. I’m well aware of his reputation. But you’re right, he works hard for me and works harder for his clients so I can excuse his lack of soft skills most of the time. You started calling me Mr. Singer again by the way.”
My head was spinning. “All right, Josh.” I put emphasis on his first name. “Why did you ask me if I like working for Warren?”
“Well that leads me to what I wanted to discuss with you.”
My palms started to sweat. Isn’t this where in the book he proposed an affair or arrangement whereby I went back to his hotel room to see what exactly was under that suit?
“I want you to work for me.”
In my mind that sentence ended with as my personal sex slave, but in reality I realized he was proposing a real job. “Uh, what?” was my eloquent response.
“I want you to come to New York and work as my second assistant. Nigel has been with me a number of years and is the best in the business, however he has a personal situation currently that precludes him from traveling with me and he needs to be out of the office from time to time to address it. I would need you in New York most of the time, but then also to travel with me. Matter of fact, we would leave for Cancun on Wednesday.”
I was stunned. “I would move to New York?”
Amazon buy links for Tell Me Something:
Excerpt for Ask Me Something-Available November 2015
Brian’s voice was doing funny things to me, so I gulped down more water. I couldn’t believe we were standing in my kitchen having this conversation. “Maybe I like to call the shots with the men I date.” And quite frankly if they didn’t like it, then too bad, I almost added.
“Yeah, and how has that worked out for you, Sasha?”
His smug look made me want to wipe it off. “I’m not into long-lasting relationships, therefore it worked out just fine,” I retorted.
He gave a low chuckle and moved so that he was boxing me in against the countertop. With his forearms on either side of me, he leaned in. His voice was low and gravelly as he murmured against my ear. “I was talking about the sex, honey. How was the sex?”
I wasn’t sure I wanted to discuss my sexual history, let alone admit it lacking. Meanwhile, his nearness was wreaking havoc on my senses.
He pulled back and danced his fingers down my arm. “Actually, I could tell you exactly how it was for you.”
I shivered at his nearness and sexy voice. “Do tell,” I challenged on a whisper.
He smirked as if knowing exactly the effect he was having on me. “It was fine. And the word fine is a throwaway word. It’s what you respond with to the doorman when he asks how your evening was: “Fine thanks.” It’s what you say to the client when they ask how your flight was: “Fine” But it shouldn’t be the way you describe your sex life. Hell, maybe the first time was okay and promising. The second time, maybe a little bit better, but by the fifth time, you realized that’s it. That was the main act with the encore. But it was fine, so you stick it out for a while. After all, it’s been nice to have a reason to wear something new and lacy with someone to notice. Nice to get dinner with someone. But then you find yourself bored and staying late at work even when you don’t have to because, frankly, the alternative isn’t as appealing, and that’s not so fine.”
“Okay, enough.” I moved one of his arms and stepped out of reach to lean against the opposite counter. He’d touched a nerve, hitting too close to home on my sex life, or at least the one that I could remember.
“Honey, I only tell you this because I’ve been there, and now it’s time for something better than fine.”
Author Interview
1. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
When I was in my early twenties I was across the country from my family and friends with a lot of time to myself. I’d always loved reading and developed my own ideas/characters, etc, writing them down in a journal. About a year later I bought a very heavy, clunky laptop (with a floppy disk) and started typing out my first couple of stories. It grew from there over the years into actual stories instead of only scenes.
2. How long does it take you to write a book?
This is a tough question because I sat on scenes and ideas of over 30 books for the last twenty years. But once I committed to actually writing, editing and finding my actual story, it took about a year. I think the first one is the hardest (at least for me) because I had a lot to learn. This second one is going faster. But I think for me 4-5 months is what I need to really get things right.
3. What do you think makes a great story?
For me personally, I like a really good character arc with internal and external conflict. I like true growth and imperfect people that are perfect for one another despite their faults. I like when love takes time and is being worked out instead of at first sight and I like an ending that satisfies.
4. What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
I work full time 40-50 hours per week and have two little ones. So my writing is primarily between the hours of 9pm-11pm nightly and then the weekends I get some larger chunks of time. Thankfully a lot of my story ideas and scenes were written before I had children, otherwise I don’t know how I would start from scratch at this point in my life.
5. How do you balance family and writing?
It’s not easy, but luckily I have a supportive family. I have to hope that my readers will understand and wait for the next book because when it comes down to it, I only have one opportunity in raising my children and that will always come first. They’re only little once and grow up all too quickly!
6. Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
It can be something random like a song, but most of the time it’s a place that inspires me and then I think of the type of people that would be in that place. Luckily I’ve travelled a lot and have had a lot of inspiration.
7. What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book/s?
The most surprising thing for me was the difference between telling a story and writing their lives. A story moves forward and keeps moving keeping the reader engaged. The issue, (at least for me) was that I’d been writing their lives having sat with the same characters for so many years. So out of that I had to carve out the story. Writing is hard, but cutting almost 90K works for your 115K word story was even harder!
8. How many books have you written? Which is your favourite?
I have written over thirty books, however only one is published. Funny enough it was the nineteenth book I’d written, but the first one that I saw the story completing. Tell Me Something is my favourite because it’s my very first novel. It will always be the one I had to work the hardest and learn the most from.
9. Are your characters based on anyone you know?
My main characters aren’t, but normally the characters that come in and you don’t like. Yeah those are definitely inspired by personalities or people I’ve met. (and sometimes named after them too-ha)
10. Do you have a favourite place you love to write?
I love to write when I travel. (I don’t do this much anymore) but ten years ago I’d spend weeks overseas for work. I’ve written in a London park, on a train to Paris, in hotel overlooking Hong Kong and on a plane traveling to Australia. There is something exciting about going amazing places that for me gets the creative side of my brain functioning. It also helps to have the uninterrupted time.
11. How hard is it to get published?
I actually never submitted to a publisher and always knew I’d self-publish. I love writing so much that I feared the rejection would turn me off from it. But I’ve heard that the process can be intimidating.
12. What do your family and friends think about your books?
I’d been writing for twenty years and yet there were very few that knew it so when I published most people were very, very surprised to hear that I’d been writing let alone published. Because of the type of book I wrote, not everyone knows. Most of my friends/family that do know have been very supportive, but unfortunately there are a few disappointments. Not sure why, but the amazing people I’ve met after publishing have more than made up for it!!
13. What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Aside from spending time with my family. I do still love to read. The unfortunate part of writing all the time is that there is less time to read and there are so many amazing books out there on my TBR list!
14. Do you have any suggestions to help aspiring writers better themselves and their craft? If so, what are they?
My biggest piece of advice is to find a good editor that can help coach you through the process. If that means waiting to save money for that process, then wait. I was lucky enough to find an editor that not only beta read and offered suggestions, but guided me through the entire process explaining why she made the edits she did in the first few chapters. It was much more time consuming to do this, but I became a better writer with a better book because of it.
15. As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
A veterinarian. I read all of the James Herriot books growing up. But then I realized you’d have to put animals down and I was out! I’d be a balling mess if I had to do that part of the job!
16. What are your favourite books and which authors inspire you?
My favourite authors/series are J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts) and her In Death series and Janet Evanovitch and her Stephanie Plum series. To be able to take the same characters and write new material that keeps the reader not only interested but begging for the next one over so many years is impressive and inspiring.
However in my genre, I’m inspired by Sylvia Day and her Crossfire Series. That woman can write some steamy scenes for sure!
17. For an aspiring writer what do you feel are certain do's and don’ts for getting their material published?
The dos include getting an editor as previously discussed. The second would be to study the process. Do this by following blogs (I didn’t know what a cover reveal or release day was until I did), joining author groups on Goodreads and reading books/articles written by other authors helping authors. The last do should be obvious, but I’ve heard too many times in the groups it isn’t: Do use your manners. Most bloggers/reviewers are doing what they love on top of working full time and having families too-be respectful of that fact when asking for reviews or being turned down because they don’t have the time.
The don’ts include: don’t expect to make a lot of money. Of course it would be nice, but your initial goals should have more to do with good reviews and finding devoted readers than actually making money. You hear the stories, sure, but those are the exceptions and until you can get multiple books out (so I’ve heard-I’m not there yet) there shouldn’t be an expectation. The other is similar lines: Don’t expect things to happen overnight. This is marathon, not a sprint.
18. What are you working on now?
I’m working on the sequel to Tell Me Something, called Ask Me Something. This is the story of secondary characters introduced in the first book (but is a standalone too). It’s the story of Brian and Sasha. Two friends/colleagues for many years finding their love story. I’m in the editing process now and it should be out the end of November!!
Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer my questions Aubrey!
About The Author
Aubrey Bondurant loves to write, read and travel. She's former military and lives on the East Coast with her husband and boys. She has an affinity for big drooly dogs and a great margarita.
When she isn't working full time at her day job, she puts fingers to keyboard to craft a story. She had a goal to publish her first book before she turned the big 4-0. She may have missed that by a tad, but has finally fulfilled that dream with Tell Me Something!
She calls her style of writing, "Smutty Chick-lit" and likes to write a novel with an ending and no cliff hanger with the sequels for the purpose of the supporting characters.
Author Links
Website:
http://www.aubreybondurant.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/aubreybondurantauthor
Twitter:
@AubreyBondurant
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25825591-tell-me-something
Sign up for new releases:
http://eepurl.com/brpchP
Giveaway
